No emergency outages after Santa Ana winds prompted Southern California fire danger warnings
A fire rages in the hills near Simi Valley. Credit: JOSHUA L. LARSEN-JOURDAIN
by Staff
Updated Jan. 7, 2014 | 4:58 p.m.
SANTA ANA – A fire burned in the hills near Simi Valley for a second day, prompting Southern California fire warnings as the wind roared through the region during evening rush hour.
A wildfire was reported less than a mile off the Ventura coast after strong Santa Ana winds hit the area Wednesday morning, prompting the Orange County Fire Authority to warn of potential fire danger, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a notice of watch for Santa Barbara and other areas of the county.
Fire officials said the blaze appeared to be extinguished but were sending crews to the area to check on its progress.
Strong winds forced the evacuation of homes near Ventura County, but no injuries were reported from the blaze. No additional injuries were reported elsewhere in the county, authorities said.
Officials in Simi Valley said residents had evacuated more than two dozen homes, including the famed Chateau Miramar complex, which is nestled amid the city’s popular Westlake neighborhood.
“It’s really scary out here, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said resident John Mascaro Monday morning.
The high winds had blown down trees and power lines, power outages were reported throughout the region and dozens of residents were evacuated from parts of Los Angeles County for the second time this week. The county declared a state of emergency in that area ahead of the winter storm.
Strong winds and dry conditions are making it tough for crews to build fire break walls on the coast, leaving some homes threatened by rising flames, authorities said.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said it
